TRADE-HAITI: Concern Over Question of CARICOM Tariffs

Officials in Haiti are openly concerned over proposals by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) - the regional trade treaty group - to revise its tariff structure.

RIGHTS-CHILE: Disappeared Won’t Rest in Peace

The discovery of two bodies in a secret grave, fresh denunciations about Colonia Dignidad and a recent court verdict brought Chile's attention back to the disappeared of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990).

HUMAN RIGHTS: Inter-American Commission Takes on Impunity

Impunity, which remains the norm for crimes attributed to security forces, continues to stymie the consolidation of democracy in the Americas, according to the Inter- American Human Rights Commission (CIDH), currently meeting in Venezuela.

CHILDREN-PERU: Entrepreneur Wants to Feed the Children

There is a popular saying that "there is no such thing as a free lunch" but that doesnt apply to breakfast, says Peruvian entrepreneur Roberto Wagner.

HEALTH: Non-Aligned Movement Puts Health High on Int’l Agenda

The Non Aligned Movement (NAM) will meet with the new Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Gro Harlem Brundtland, to express its concern over the deteriorating state of people's health and their diminishing access to health care in the developing world.

EDUCATION-LATIN AMERICA: Books not Bombs, says Arias

Latin America has no choice but to cut military spending and increase investment in education if it wants to develop and become more competitive, said Oscar Arias, 1987 Nobel Prizewinner and former president of Costa Rica.

POLITICS-IRAQ: US Group Sends Aid in Defiance of Sanctions

In the largest act of defiance against the U.N. sanctions on Iraq, more than 100 Americans - including a former U.S. Attorney General - left for Baghdad Wednesday carrying some four million dollars' worth of medicine.

DEVELOPMENT: Globalisation Marginalising the South

The growing trend toward globalisation and liberalisation has further marginalised developing countries from the mainstream of the world economy, says the head the Third World coalition 'Group of 77.'

ARTS-ENTERTAINMENT – 4.

Hong Kong soon will be celebrating the first year of its return to China, but a series of documentary films being shown here reveal the mixed emotions felt by Hong Kong people toward their ancestral homeland and Britain, the former colonial power.

POLITICS-KENYA: President Faces In-House Revolt

Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi faces a rebellion of sorts by a group of legislators in the first sign that a rift is developing in the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) which he has led with an iron fist since 1978.

DEVELOPMENT-THAILAND: Police Corruption Takes a Hit

The threat of police corruption, a regular source of torment for Bangkok residents, may have been forced into retreat -- at least temporarily.

TIBET-CHINA: New Film Rekindles Beijing’s Wrath

Yet another film about Tibet, a favourite subject in American film circles, has earned the ire of Chinese officials who call it an attempt to "deceive" world audiences on the situation in the Himalayan land.

CINEMA-USA: The United States – ‘The Big One’

Why call it the United States of America when you could use a more evocative name - like "The Big One"? Why should patriotic Americans stand for the the "Star-Spangled Banner" when the national anthem could be that catchy little number by Queen - "We Will Rock You"? ' These are just some of the questions asked by writer-director- author Michael Moore in a scrappy, affably populist way in his new quasi-documentary movie - called "The Big One" (distributed by Miramax).

CULTURE-ZIMBABWE: Activism Through Art

Through the eyes of a group of young Zimbabwean artists, the rising increase in violence against women and children in Zimbabwe has leaped further into the public domain.

MUSIC-JAMAICA: Remembering “Stepping Razor”

During his life, Peter Tosh grew to be one of reggae's most controversial figures. Today, 11 years after his death, mention of the man they called the "Stepping Razor" still causes heated argument.

CULTURE: What’s in a Name? – Less said, the Better!

The five-years-old Czech Republic continues to ponder an issue that any other youngster generally has accepted at the same age: his or her name.

BIODIVERSITY-INDIA: Indians Warn Europe Of Bio-piracy Dangers

An Indian delegation, in Europe to express Third World concerns about a planned European Union directive on life patents, now fears the directive might be allowed to slip through on account of European politicians' "apathy".

ARTS-ENTERTAINMENT – 5. LITERATURE: Snake Language – Seeking a Femininist Voice

Literature written by women generally is ignored in Chile because of a tendancy to ignore anything to to do with reflecting the feminist perpective. At least, that is the conclusion of Raquel Olea, a professor in literature and a prominant feminist, in her new book: "Lengua Vibora - Producciones de lo femenino en la escritura de mujeres chilenas" (Snake Language. The feminist angle in writings by Chilean women).

ARTS-ENTERTAINMENT – 5. LITERATURE: Snake Language – Seeking a Femininist Voice

Literature written by women generally is ignored in Chile because of a tendancy to ignore anything to to do with reflecting the feminist perpective. At least, that is the conclusion of Raquel Olea, a professor in literature and a prominant feminist, in her new book: "Lengua Vibora - Producciones de lo femenino en la escritura de mujeres chilenas" (Snake Language. The feminist angle in writings by Chilean women).

POLITICS: NATO Expansion Still Worries Some in U.S.

despite the decision last week by U.S. Senate to admit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) thetrte is still concern here that NATO expansion may backfire against national security interests.

POLITICS-UN: Chernobyl Fund Evokes Little Donor Sympathy

The international community has offered little sympathy - and hardly any funds - to the United Nations in its efforts to help victims of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl.